‘Naruto’ Update: Animator of Hit Series Dies at 52; Friends Point Out Overwork

The animator of "Naruto" and "Bleach" has passed away though news of the shocking death only came out this week. Kazunori Mizuno died last month at the age of 52. A friend has pointed out the dilemma of overwork in the manga industry as fans mourn the death of the famous animator.

According to Comic Book, Kazunori Mizuno is known for his work on "Bleach." He had a particularly long history working on the hit series. However, he is also famous for being an animator of "Naruto Shippuden," "Akira," and "Yu Yu Hakusho."

When news of Mizuno's death broke out online, "Naruto" fans showered social media with their condolences and grief over the industry's big loss. While others focused on grieving, others pointed out what could be the biggest problem in the world of manga and animation.

Twitter user @fujisan79, who appears to be a good friend of the "Naruto" animator, noted that animators don't have a lot of time to rest. Instead, they resort to overworking and could not find time to take breaks in between their hectic schedules. Experts in the field have also expressed that they won't be surprised if Mizuno's cause of death is related to exhaustion.

There is no official word regarding the true cause of death of Mizuno. However, fans are hoping that they would get answers to their questions soon. "Naruto" fans have started making tributes for the deceased animator.

Meanwhile, fans are also anxious about the premiere of "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations." With the first episode out, viewers are wondering if Naruto is a dead series. According to Polygon, the pilot episode hints that the Seventh Hokage may have been sent into a different dimension. This has led fans to worry even more.

On the other hand, the series creator has previously revealed that Naruto will still be part of "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations." Other characters in "Shippuden" are also expected to appear in the spin-off series.